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UFS partners with ZZ2 and launches NovaLogix

22 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Born2shoot

Dr Tommie van Zyl, Prof Philippe Burger and Prof Francis Petersen — At the launch of NovaLogix, a company co-owned by the UFS and ZZ2, were, from the left, Dr Tommie van Zyl, CEO of the ZZ2 Group, and Prof Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently (17 January 2024) launched NovaLogix in collaboration with ZZ2, a well-known South African fresh produce company.

This new company, co-owned by the university and ZZ2, aims to develop and produce a probiotic used in the production of fresh produce to enhance plant health and growth. Projects include a focus on improved production techniques, product registration, commercialisation, and improved recipes.

Members of the university’s management structures were present at the formal launch of NovaLogix – which took place on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus – including the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, Prof Vasu Reddy; and the Senior Director of the Directorate Research Development, Dr Glen Taylor. The deans of the two faculties that will be mainly involved in this partnership were also present, namely Prof Paul Oberholster, the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Prof Philippe Burger, the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Among the attendees representing ZZ2 were Dr Tommie van Zyl, the Chief Executive Officer of the ZZ2 Group, Piet Prinsloo, Executive Manager at ZZ2, as well as Wiam Haddad, the new CEO of NovaLogix.

Co-creation and more sustainable outcomes

In his welcoming remarks, Prof Petersen stated that this event marks the culmination of a five-year journey that began in 2019 when he, Prof Burger, and Prof Danie Vermeulen, former Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, first visited ZZ2 to initiate closer collaboration and cooperation.

He is of the opinion that the relationship with ZZ2 is ideally suited to assist the university in realising the core values of Vision 130, the university’s strategic intent to reposition the institution as one of the leading universities in South Africa by 2034.

The knowledge, experience, and expertise that ZZ2 brings to the partnership, complement the exciting and impactful research done by the university’s academics across a range of disciplines. - Prof Francis Petersen

Prof Petersen said that the UFS values partnerships with the private sector, and he considers ZZ2 to be a knowledge partner with co-creation as a key component in this collaboration.

“Working together on a challenge makes the solution more sustainable. I believe that innovation and this co-creation approach will generate outcomes that transform the agricultural sector and impart knowledge to the next generation,” he stated.

“The knowledge, experience, and expertise that ZZ2 brings to the partnership complement the exciting and impactful research conducted by the university’s academics across a range of disciplines. I am looking forward to a partnership that will grow from strength to strength,” concluded Prof Petersen.

Breakthrough developments in the pipeline

According to Dr Van Zyl, ZZ2 would like to continue building a future with the university based on a symbiotic relationship. “We want to ensure that our strengths as an organisation are put to good use,” he said, expressing a strong conviction that there will be breakthrough developments with this initiative.

This work will align with ZZ2’s ‘Work with nature’ journey that began more than two decades ago, steering away from conventional, industrial agriculture towards a system that aims to farm in harmony with nature. “It is important that we nurture nature while using her resources,” he said.

He is excited to work with the university, exploring improved techniques and technologies to find more effective ways towards a sustainable future. “Knowledge partners are important in this journey,” he stated.

Building on existing collaborations

In September 2022, the university entered into a collaboration agreement with ZZ2. The partnership between the two entities included the establishment of FreeFarm Innovation, a company that in turn has a holding in NovaLogix and is designed to leverage the strengths, capabilities, skills, and resources of both parties. Part of the operations of FreeFarm Innovation included opportunities for research, commercialisation, and the enhancement of agricultural products. This has come into effect in projects on, for example, business operations, agricultural sustainability, and innovative approaches to growing fruit and vegetables, to name but a few.

News Archive

Inaugural lecture: World on verge of agricultural revolution

2008-05-19

A changing economic climate and new technology will see to a number of interesting changes in the livestock industry in the next few years. This is according to Prof. Frikkie Neser of the Department of Animal and Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, who delivered his inaugural lecture at the UFS on the subject: “The quest for a superior animal”.

Prof. Neser focused on the future of animal breeding in the next few decades.

He said the world, but especially South Africa, stand on the verge of a revolution in the agriculture sector. The whole production scenario will probably change. The high fuel and food prices are the two biggest factors that will play a role.

“Increasing fuel prices opened the door for the production of bio-fuel. The fuel industry is in direct competition with humans and the livestock industry for the same resource that result in unbelievable high prices for maize, sunflower and soya. These prices can further increase with the worldwide shortage of food,” he said.

More profitable breeds could take the place of existing breeds because of the big increase in input costs, he said. “Selection for more effective, and not maximum production, will became more important.

“There are also indications of pressure on feed lots. If this industry downsizes, it could lead to a total turnaround in the beef industry. The feed lots prefer a later maturing animal that can put on a lot of weight before fat is laid down. If this industry declines, early maturing breeds and some of the synthetic breeds, as well as crossbreeding with early maturing breeds, will play a more prominent role in the meat industry.

“This will also lead to a decline in the total number of animals in order to prevent overgrazing. This can result in an increase in imports from neighbouring countries and especially Brazil, where production costs are much lower.

“One way to increase the profitability of meat production is to utilise niche markets. There is world-wide a shift to more natural products. The demand for grass-fed beef drastically increased. According to research it is healthier than meat from feed lots and usually free of hormones and antibiotics. If factors such as traceability are put in place, this could be a very profitable niche mark for the South African meat industry,” he said.

Prof. Neser also said: “In order for breeding societies to survive they need to increase the number of members and the animals that are being registered. This they do by replacing the word stud with recorded animals. Hereby they open the door for excellent commercial animals to become part of the seed-stock industry. Another benefit is that especially in the smaller breeds more information becomes available, resulting in more accurate breeding values.”

Prof. Frikkie Neser.

Download complete Inaugural lecture - Afrikaans (Pdf format)

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